08-23-2011

08-22-2011

Not So

JB, not to be outdone by BW's interest in insects has, over the summer acquired and lost several 'pets'. Roly-polys, ladybugs, daddy-long-legs, crickets and critters of every shape and size. None of them are safe so long as JB and BW are in the area.

The latest pet was a huge brown crickety-cricket - "Actually, mama, it's a Grasshopper, but it's okay if you want to call it a cricket." (Only six and already she's an authority. I wonder where ever she gets that...)

After several days time, the fellow became a casualty of curiosity. Each time JB or BW would lay eyes on the grass and hopper filled jar, they'd question if he was still alive and shake it. Finally after four days the poor thing didn't move any longer. BW's buddy Jim was expected for a play date - so JB decided to keep the bug until he came over and she could show him off.

After knowing BW for so long, Jim displayed only a passing interest in the bug until JB declared that it was time to bury it. It was at this point that our dear bug's contribution to science took an unexpected turn.

While BW was preoccupied with the Wii, Jim and JB took the grasshopper outside to bury it... along the way, one of them wondered, "What do the insides look like?"

So, they dumped the grasshopper onto the driveway, picked up the largest flattest rock they could find, and with all of the logic in the world, squished the bug. Squeals of "EWWWWW" could be in the house as the two raced in and shared excitedly, that hopper's two biggest legs had broken off "AND his GUTS squished ALL OVER! IT WAS SOOO COOL!"

Later, after Jim had gone home and we were telling Charles's about the day's events, he looked to JB and asked, "I can't remember, what was hopper's name again?"

With all of the soulful melancholy a six year old could muster, she looked sadly to the ground and replied, "His name was Lucky."

Keep it simple S'pid

Charles and I love to cook, and each of us has our own dishes that we are best at. He can make a pie in which each bite will melt in your mouth, and the crust is so light and flaky it's as though angels themselves are born of it.

I, sadly do not posses that talent. I overwork the crust, and the resulting toughness is lacking in taste and fulfillment. However, I can make an appetizer or dish that will leave you wanting for more. As in life, our cooking abilities complement each other.

One thing that we have in common is a disdain for pompous recipes. Ones that are for simple everyday staples that are written such that even experienced cooks become lost in the unnecessary verbiage and drawn-out processes. Like the one for making simple white rice that requires "rinsing the rice in several changes of water until it the water is clear and sweet". To that Charles noted on the side of the recipe 'Rinse the damn rice.'

It's a running theme for us when it comes to cooking; Keep It Simple, follow your gut, and make it with love. This approach applies whether it's in how we cook, or in how we live life, and we have a tendency to point out the 'fluff' we run across, almost mocking it really.

We look to each other for our strengths and support each other in our weaknesses. In this case, it was on how to cook fresh green beans, as they were part of our weekly produce delivery. Since Charles has had better luck with them than I have, I sought his opinion when making them for dinner one night.

"Hey Charles, what's the best way to cook green beans?"

"Beans in a big bowl, no water, covered, microwave on fresh veggies selection. Remove when the final countdown occurs for maximum crunch."

"Thanks love!"

"I think that's a recipe, Post it! Oh, wait. You need some more steps like "rinse the beans using only purified water, and trim each to exactly 1.73 inches."

I think I might keep him around awhile longer.

Today's 'as seen on campus' finds a home

The series of photos for Today's 'as seen on campus' began by happenchance. While attending and later working at the local university I noticed an occasional bit of graffiti and whimsically photographed the ones that struck me as interesting.

It wasn't until I started following the additions of handwritten text that resulted in the 'No Smoking' sign near the chemistry department's teaching assistant's office that I realized the sheer volume of graffiti, street art and other temporary works on campus that people didn't appear to notice or react to.

While I found many of the images ponderous, funny, clever or just plain odd, I also had the urge to share them with friends and family, kind of as a "Wow, you would not believe what I found on campus today!?" incredulousness.

Without knowing how much material would eventually be documented, the images were placed onto one of the more popular social media sites, and it became a great way to share the oddities of the university life as well as the human experience with friends and family.

As concerns regarding personal creativity, ownership of photos I've taken and the ever evolving form of social media and it's associated privacy concerns grew, I became convinced that there was a better solution to sharing the images and decided to incorporate them into this blog. I apologize if there are several that you've seen before, but I assure you that there are several that have not been posted before and that the series will continue so long as there are interesting images to capture.

Noticing and recording odd or interesting bits while on campus became a daily habit, so much so that friends would occasionally point out or ask if I'd seen an especially outlandish piece. To them, and you know who you are, I say 'Thank You!' for continuing to pique my interest.

To those who've followed the series and have commented on it at one time or another, I extend a hearty "Thank You!" as well - without your continued interest, I'm not sure how motivated I would have been to continue to collect and post the day's findings.

I hope that once school begins you will continue to visit and check out what is posted for Today's 'as seen on campus'. While it may not be thought provoking, I can assure you it will be interesting.

Crisis

I'm desperately trying to get out the door and make my way to a town south of where we live so I can take the GRE for my application to med school yet my departure is being delayed by baby-girl's crisis at the moment is that her brother is sleeping on the FLOOR of the recreation room WITHOUT any PANTS on!

Oh, the horror. Really, the girl is perfectly horrified because she can see his butt.

Really.

Major educational milestone for me on the horizon, and the world is coming to an end in our household because JB can see BW's butt.

I'm developing a fondness for padding on the walls. 

Too Much

It's been too much. Too much summer. Too many hours spent with small children and too few moments of quiet.

We have thirty days until BW and JB return to school. Sadly though, my semester starts the same day they return and I am in need of a break away from JB and BW before the chaos of fall starts again.

Last summer was hectic, juggling a physics class, AunT's estate, the house, the children, making time for Charles and myself. It seemed to pass so quickly. Without the distractions of school or the estate this summer has been far more challenging. Time is crawling by leaving me to focus on how much is too much...

Too many hours of bickering, fighting whining and tears.

Too much drama of "He said this" or "She said that".

Too much whining and pleading after having been told no.

Too many "Mama?", "Mama!" and "MAAAA-MAAA"s.

Too many "I'm hungry", "I want a snack", "When is lunch", "When is dinner", and "Can we have dessert"?

Too many meals of "I don't like this", "That's disgusting" or "Ewww, gross".

Too many fast food dinners.

Too many nights interrupted with "I had a scary dream", "I can't sleep", and "I want some water" at 4 am.

Too many naps where bickering woke me up too soon.

Too many books set down and not picked up again because I need to clean up something since "That wasn't such a good idea was it mama?"

Too many afternoons filled with thunderstorms.

Too many nights of lightening and rain.

Too many outings canceled because of inclement weather.

Too many projects that need focus but couldn't be addressed due to all the 'too manys'.

Too many two-legged and four-legged children under my feet, every moment of every day.

Too many hours away from Charles, envious of the time he gets to spend with adults.

Maybe it's just been too much for today that I'm having a difficult time seeing the good parts - I know they are there.

The children are tan and confident in the water from the swimming lessons they've enjoyed this summer. BW has enjoyed several Cub Scout activities and is about to head out for a father-son Cub Scout camping trip. His confidence in himself has deepened and his friendships with children his age have grown stronger and will likely last into adulthood. JB has grown into a graceful spirit and vastly enjoys her ballet and tap classes. Her relationships with her friends has blossomed and she's now eager and confident enough to enjoy sleepovers without late night calls to rescue her. Neither one of them has suffered from any major catastrophes, unlike last year.

The garden looks better than it has in a few years and the perennial beds are almost under control again. On nights when we don't have thunderstorms and lightening, Charles and I are able to lounge on the deck and enjoy a quiet moment or two before the children discover where we are.

On days like this though where we have spent too much time together it is hard to keep perspective. I need focus on the good moments and make the time we have left work for us. Wish me luck that we survive the next few weeks and make the summer a fun one to remember.